From the writings of Hadrat Shaykh (Mawlana Muhammad Zakariyya), may Allah illuminate his grave, the treatises on fada’il were written at the insistence of the people of Allah . Thus, Fada’il-e-Qur’an Majid and Fada’il-e-Durud Sharif were written at the behest of Mawlana Shah Muhammad Yasin Naginawi (may Allah shower His mercy upon him [1]. He wrote Fada’il-e-Tabligh, Fada’il-e-Namaz, Fada’il-e-Ramadan, Fada’il-e-Dhikr, Fada’il-e-Sadaqat and Fada’il-e-Tijarat in compliance with the instruction of Mawlana Muhammad Ilyas (may Allah shower His mercy upon him), Hikayat-e-Sahabah at the insistence of Mawlana Shah ‘Abd al-Qadir Raipuri (may Allah shower His mercy upon him), and Fada’il-e-Hajj at the insistence of Mawlana Muhammad Yusuf Dehlawi (may Allah shower His mercy upon him). […] Thus, he wrote in the introduction to Awjaz al-Masalik that this work was written at the insistence of students. His additional commentary to al-Kawkab al-Durri and Lami‘ al-Darari was written at the insistence of Shaykh al-Islam Mawlana Sayyid Husayn Ahmad Madani (may Allah shower His mercy upon him).

Mawlana Muzaffar Husayn Kandhlawi (may Allah shower His mercy upon him) has been mentioned several times on the blog. I recently came across some more biographical information about the mawlana which readers may find interesting.

The mawlana’s biographers write that he was of an extremely pious disposition from a young age and an ardent follower of the sunnah. His condition, later in life, became such that his body would not accept even a morsel of food procured from doubtful sources. Once, when mawlana was involved in the construction of a mosque in Kandhla, Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan — on account of close family ties — donated some money. Mawlana Muzaffar Husayn’s taqwa was such that he refused the cash saying, “Your income is haram and cannot be used for a mosque.’’

Mawlana Muzaffar Husayn Kandhlawi was among the trusted colleagues and students of Shah Muhammad Ishaq Dehlawi[1] and his brother Shah Muhammad Ya‘qub (may Allah shower His mercy upon them). He was among those who were named by these two savants as their successors in India when they migrated to the Hijaz.[2]

Mawlana Muzaffar Husayn was also from among the leaders of the 1857 War of Independence against Colonialism. The mawlana strove greatly and rendered remarkable services during the war. Mawlana Rashid al-Hasan Kandhlawi notes that it is regretful that much has not been written regarding the services of Mawlana Muzaffar Husayn and the zeal and fervour of the people of Kandhla and its surrounding areas during the 1857 jihad.

It was Mawlana Muzaffar Husayn’s practice to visit and reside in the mosques of neighbouring towns and villages for three to four days at a time. During his stay he would explain the method of offering salah to the people, teach them the rulings of religion, and encourage them to bring them into practise. Mawlana Muhammad Isma‘il Kandhlawi (may Allah shower His mercy upon him) inherited this practise from Mawlana Muzaffar Husayn. This method of preaching was later popularised by his son Mawlana Muhammad Ilyas (may Allah shower His mercy upon him) and is now prevalent throughout the world in the form of the Tablighi Jama‘ah movement.

Mawlana Muzaffar Husayn also authored a treatise — Radd-e-Rusum (Refutation of Customs) — in refutation of innovations and the practise of not marrying widows, something that was prevalent in India at that time.[4] Mawlana Rashid al-Hasan Kandhlawi writes that he is in possession of a manuscript of this treatise in Hafiz Damin Shahid’s (may Allah shower His mercy upon him)[5] handwriting.

[3] He was the father of Mawlana Muhammad Ilyas Kandhlawi and Mawlana Muhammad Yahya Kandhlawi (may Allah shower His mercy upon them).

[4] The notion of considering the marrying of widows shameful is something that had become prominent in India owing to local Hindu culture. The practise was also strongly opposed by Sayyid Ahmad Shahid and his followers (may Allah shower His mercy upon them all).

[5] He was a senior khalifah of Shaykh Mianji Nur Muhammad Jhinjhanawi and a close companion of Haji Imdad Allah Muhajir Makki. He was martyred in the Battle of Shamli in 1857. He left this temporal world in a mosque with his head resting in the lap of Mawlana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (may Allah shower His mercy upon them all).

[6] This section of the book comprises footnotes by Mawlana Rashid al-Hasan Kandhlawi. The book itself was compiled by Mawlana Mahmud Ashraf Usmani.

Biographies tend to surface after the death of a notable individual. The mere fact that this biography is before you in the lifetime of its subject- Shaykh Fazlur Rahman Azmi, is an indication of the acceptance with which he has been bestowed. This book will provide the reader with a glimpse of one of the great contemporary scholars of Islam and a leading authority of hadith. Furthermore, it is hoped that this brief work will serve as an inspiration to all: with effort, sacrifice and devotion to Allah, a great deal can be achieved.

Shaykh al-Hadith Fazlur Rahman Azmi was born in 1356/1946 in Maunath Bhanjan (Mau), Uttar Pradesh, India. After memorizing the Qur’an at an early age by his father, Shaykh Hafiz al-Rahman Azmi, Shaykh al-Hadith embarked on an intensive period of studying during which he mastered Arabic, Persian and Urdu. Upon completion of the rigorous Shari’ah program (‘alim course) at Madrasah Miftah al-‘Ulum, Mau in the traditional Islamic sciences, he studied the various modes of Qur’anic recitation (qira’ah), thereafter specializing in hadith and answering legal questions (ifta) under the great scholar of hadith, Shaykh Habib al-Rahman Azmi.

Shaykh al-Hadith’s illustrious teaching career began in his home town of Mau. On the advice of his teacher he moved to Madrasah Mazhar al-‘Ulum, Varanasi where he taught for four years. In 1395/1975 he moved to the renowned seminary, Jami’ah Islamiyyah Dabhel, Gujarat where he taught the major books of tafsir (Qur’anic exegesis), hadith, fiqh (Islamic law) and qira’ah. In 1406/1986 he was invited to Madrasah Arabia Islamia, Azaadville, South Africa and was offered the post of Shaykh al-Hadith (‘Senior Lecturer of hadith’). To date he has been teaching Sahih al-Bukhari, Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Mishkat al-Masabih and other major books at this institute.

Shaykh al-Hadith is a prolific writer and has authored over forty books. His most famous works include introductions to Sahih al-Bukhari and Sunan al-Tirmidhi. He has also been active in the field of da’wah and tabligh and has benefited many as a distinguished disciple (khalifah) of Shah Hakim Muhammad Akhtar in the field of spiritual reformation (tazkiyah). Shaykh al-Hadith currently resides in Azaadville with his family.

Praise of Shaykh al-Hadith from distinguished scholars …

‘His mere presence is a great bounty for the people of South Africa.’ – Shaykh Marghub Ahmad Lajpuri

‘Hold firmly to him … firstly, because of his faith (iman), then because of his love of the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him), then because of his knowledge.’ – Shaykh Zuhayr Ibn Nasir al-Nasir (al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia)

‘…of whom the term ”mountain of knowledge” is most appropriate.’ – Mufti Muhammad Faruq Mirathi

The renowned contemporary Hadith scholar, Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah, born in Aleppo, Syria and currently residing in the illuminated city of Madinah, was asked about scholars around the world whom he considered beacons of guidance. In reply, he mentioned some of those whom he was aware of and who came to mind at that time. Below is a translation of what he said about the scholars of the Indian Subcontinent.

In Karachi, Pakistan: [There is] the eminent Dr. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Razzaq Iskandar, the director of Jami’ah [al-‘Ulum al-Islamiyyah in the Binnuri Town area], whose da‘wah efforts within and beyond Pakistan are huge. There is also the eminent Shaykh Muhammad ‘Abd al-Halim Chishti, who is the brother of our Shaykh Muhammad ‘Abd al-Rashid Nu‘mani, may Allah shower His mercy upon him. There is also the eminent Shaykh Muhammad Taqi ‘Uthmani whose academic endeavours within and beyond Pakistan are great, and his elder brother Shaykh Muhammad Rafi‘, the rector of Jami’ah Dar al-‘Ulum Karachi. There are others too.

In India: [There are] senior exemplary scholars, who are known for their academic and da‘wah efforts, in particular, the scholars of the two great Islamic universities – Dar al-‘Ulum Deoband and Mazahir ‘Ulum Saharanpur. From the scholars of the first university is the eminent Shaykh Arshad Madani, son of Shaykh al-Islam Sayyid Husayn Ahmad Madani, who has until now published seven large volumes of Imam al-‘Ayni’s commentary of Imam al-Tahawi’s Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar, entitled Nukhab al-Afkar.

From the scholars of the second university is the eminent Shaykh Muhammad ‘Aqil, son of the ‘Allamah, the great research scholar (al-muhaqqiq, al-mudaqqiq)Shaykh Muhammad Ayyub Saharanpuri, author of Tarajim al-Ahbar, which contains biographies of the narratorsin Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar. From amongst the senior scholars of this university is the eminent Shaykh Habib Allah Qurban, who resides with us in the illuminated city of Madinah, and is from amongst the students of our master Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhlawi, may Allah shower His mercy upon him. He is exclusively occupied with teaching and writing.

In Bangladesh: [There is] the eminent Shaykh Muhammad ‘Abd al-Malik, who is one of those people who were trained and became well versed in this science (hadith) at the hand of our Shaykh, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah and Shaykh Muhammad ‘Abd al-Rashid Nu‘mani, may Allah shower His mercy upon them, and whose efforts in teaching (ta‘lim) and authoring (ta’lif) are laudable.

Below is a link to a wonderful talk given by Mawlana Nabeel Khan (of www.annoor.wordpress.com) regarding the ‘Ulama and Masha’ikh of Deoband, entitled, ‘Those were our Forefathers’. The Shaykh gives us a glimpse into the lives of various Masha’ikh affiliated to Dar al-’Ulum Deoband.

Recommended listening for anyone who has a nisbat to this noble group of ‘Ulama and for those who wish to know more about them. Click here to listen to the talk.

“Mawlana [Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi] began writing at the early age of eighteen and continued doing so until his final years. Since Imam Suyuti, aside from the mawlana, there has been no writer who has been able to write on almost all [Islamic] sciences and author such a large amount of books. He was unparalleled in giving advice and in delivering sermons. If he ever stood to speak at a particular gathering, listeners would, thereafter, not enjoy others’ speeches. Mawlana never gained any worldly benefit from his books, nor did he ever take publishing rights for them. All of his books were written for the sake of Allah and for the reformation of Muslims, and everyone was granted permission to print them.”

Below is a link to an inspirational talk given by one of our prominent and influential Masha’ikh of the UK, Hadhrat Mawlana Muhammad Saleem Dhorat sahib (may Allah protect him).

Although the lecture is about following the din in its entirety, a large part of it is dedicated to one of the great Hadith scholars and Sufis of the last century, Hadhrat Shaykh al-Hadith Mawlana Muhammad Zakariyya (may Allah shower him with mercy). Towards the end of the talk, the honourable Shaykh beautifully recounts the spiritually-charged majalis (gatherings) which took place at Dar al-‘Ulum Bury (UK), during one of Hadhrat Shaykh al-Hadith’s (may Allah shower him with mercy) two visits to the UK.

The Shaykh also explains the amazing wisdom of spending time in the path of Allah, in the effort of tabligh.